Improvement in snath-fastenings



L. M. RUMSEY & H. L. HEWITT. Snath-Fastening.

Nb. 219,655. Patented Sept. 16, 1879.

N. PETERS, FHDTQ-LITHOGRAPHEW, WASHINGTON. D. G.

UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE.

LEWVIS M. RUMSEY AND HORACE L. HEWITT, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNORS TO THEMSELVES AND MOSES RUMSEY, OE SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN SNATH-FASTENINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 219,655, dated September 16, 1879; application filed I April 26, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, LEWIS M. RUMsEY and HORAGE L. HEWITT, of the city and county of St. Louis, and State of Missouri, have jointly invented new and useful Improvements in Snath-Fastenings; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and accurate description of the same, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in snath-fastenings, as hereinafter described and claimed.

The improvements consist in extendingthe heel-plate or scythe-rest and supporting it by a brace or bracket extending from the top of the ferrule down to the heel-plate extension; also, in providing the extension with an adjustable hinged socket to receive the fingerpost of a grain-cradle; and in providing the heel-plate with an adjustable sliding plate of peculiar construction.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a grain-cradle provided with our improvement. Fig. 2 is a plan view of a section of a snath, showing our sliding snath-fastening adjustment; and Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a section of a snath, showing the braced heel-plate extension with hinged socket attachment.

A represents the snath; B, the scythe, and O the cradle, these parts having the ordinary construction. D is the heel-plate, and it is provided with a dovetailed recess, in which the plate E, having beveled toothed edges, is

adapted to slide transversely.

The plate E is provided with a hole, a, on one side of its center, or nearer toone of its edges than the other, for a purpose to be hereinafter described. v

The plateE engages with a beveled toothed wheel or a pinion forming the head of the bolt b, which bolt passes transversely through the snath, and is secured by means of a suitable nut.

The toe of the scythe-tang is inserted-in the hole a after the tang has been passed through the loop m.

The heel-plate D is formed with an extenscythe.

4 sion, H, provided with the brace or bracket G. On the extension H is a sliding hinged socket, K, which receives the fingerbar L, This socket is readily adjusted 011 the extension H by being pushed back or forward, and is held in any desired position by means of the nut c.

It will be seen that by this construction the fingers can be moved and adjusted to suit the scythe by sliding them either way on the braced extension, while the hinged socket holding the finger-post allows of an easy and perfect adjustment of the fingers.

The hole for receiving the toe of the scythetang is placed nearer to one side of the slide than the other, or to one side of its center, so that it may be adapted for a long or short shank or tang by simply reversing the slide, thus making the opening at a greater or less distance from the end of the snath to suit the length of the scythe-shank.

The sliding plate has beveled toothed edges, and is held in place by means of a bolt, on which is fixed a beveled toothed head, preferably placed on the side of the slide nearest the scythe, and when the ,bolt is secured in place the slide willdraw the shank of the scythe tighter under the loop or ring, whichever may be used to clasp the scythe-shank. With this device the set of the scythe can be regulated by taking hold of the point of the blade and pushing it in or out to the desired position, when the plate holding the toe of the scythetang will move to suit the adjustment of the The nut on the bolt is then tightened, and the slidin g plate is held firmly in place.

By having the teeth on the plate to mesh with those on the bolt-head with the construction described, the plate cannot move when scythe is in use, and cannot fall out when the bolt is loose.

By providing the extension on theheel-plate with abrace or bracket the parts are made more .firm and rigid, and the extension is not liable what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In fastenings for snaths, the extended heel-plate provided with brace or bracket G, as herein shown and described.

2. The improvement in snath-fastenings, consisting of the extended braced heel-plate, in combination with an adjustable hinged socket to support the finger-post, substantially as shown and described.

3. In grain or grass snath-fastenings, a movable slide provided with beveled toothed edges and a hole to one side of its center, in

combination with a correspondingly bevelheaded bolt with corresponding teeth or cogs, 

